Chemical plant fire

Chemical plant fire

Getty Images

A pillar of black smoke rises from a fire at a chemical plant in the Canberra industrial area of Mitchell. Emergency services battled a huge chemical fire in the Australian capital Canberra but authorities said the threat from toxic smoke plumes was diminishing. Residents were woken by loud explosions and fireballs as flames leapt hundreds of metres into the air.

A pillar of black smoke rises from a fire at a chemical plant in the Canberra industrial area of Mitchell. Emergency services battled a huge chemical fire in the Australian capital Canberra but authorities said the threat from toxic smoke plumes was diminishing. Residents were woken by loud explosions and fireballs as flames leapt hundreds of metres into the air. (Getty Images)

A pillar of black smoke rises from a fire at a chemical plant in the Canberra industrial area of Mitchell. Emergency services battled a huge chemical fire in the Australian capital Canberra but authorities said the threat from toxic smoke plumes was diminishing. Residents were woken by loud explosions and fireballs as flames leapt hundreds of metres into the air.